Shimada Masahiko

Shimada Masahiko is a famous Japanese writer and he is also an
actor. His novels are very interesting. Their themes are satirical
and severe, but he writes in a light tone.

He was born in Tokyo in 1961. When he was four years old, he moved to
Kawasaki city in Kanagawa. He went to Kawasaki high school. After
graduating from high school he went to Tokyo Gaikokugo University, and
he learned Russian. When he wrote his first novel "Yasashii Sayoku no
tameno Kiyuukyoku", he was 22 years old. He was still a university
student. The novel was printed in "Kaien", and was a awarded
candidate for the Akutagawa Prize. People said he was the new
generation's writer. Later, he was selected as a candidate for the
Akutagawa Prize a few times, but he didn't receive it.

In 1984 his novel "Muyuu Okoku no tame no Ongaku" was awarded the Noma
Art and Literature Prize for first time writers. In 1992 his novel
"Higan Sensei" was awarded the Izumi Kyoka Prize.